Although most of us have hazy positive opinions of nurses, the profession is nevertheless negatively impacted by persistently negative feminine stereotypes. Never are these conflicting viewpoints more evident than in attempts to honor nurses, which frequently depend more on sentimental "angel" imagery than on acknowledging nurses' medical expertise or concrete contributions to better patient outcomes. 
The celebration of nurses on May 1st, International Nurses Day, which culminates Nurses Week in the United States, is arguably one of the most notable instances of this. A few photos that alluded to the knowledge and advocacy of nurses were found when searching the internet about these events earlier this month. One such image thanked nurses for preventing doctors from unintentionally killing patients. 

This type of imagery is well-liked by many nurses and those who support them. The Discover Nursing website from Johnson & Johnson encouraged us to honor nurses on Nurses Week for their “dedication,” “commitment,” and “compassion.” Nurses are frequently honored in similar ways by hospitals. This year, the University of Texas Medical Branch presented its "Silent Angel Awards" during Nurses Week. And what does “angel” mean to that major academic health center? 
A: Constantly considering others 
N: Several deeds of generosity 
G: Exceeding expectations 
E: Unwavering loyalty 
L: Adore

Millions of people are still losing their lives as a result of the global nursing shortage. There are not enough nurses in most countries. However, governments and other decision-makers are not providing enough funding for nursing positions to safeguard the public, even in countries where there isn't a serious nursing shortage. Less experienced technicians or assistants have taken the place of many nurses in order to save money. The nursing profession, which is predominately dominated by women, is still underpowered overall. As a result, the shortage worsens due to patient deaths, the spread of avoidable illnesses like Ebola, and nurse burnout. The lack of awareness in society about how nurses with adequate resources can improve patient education and skilled monitoring, among other things, is the root cause of this public health crisis.

Sometimes, nursing groups perform better when honoring the profession. Nurses as an economical force for change in health care financing structures was the theme of this year's Nurses Day celebrations, organized by the International Council of Nurses. However, the themes of 2015 for a number of national nursing organizations were "compassion" and "dedication." One of them had a website that said, "I [heart] nursing," and that "Nursing Rocks."

A few nurses have advocated for novel strategies. "An Evidence-Based Approach to Nurses Week Celebrations" was published in the Journal of Nursing Administration in 2008. Researchers asked nurses at the University of Michigan how they planned to celebrate.